Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Bohol Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Bohol

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $968 per month in Manila vs $690 in Bohol, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,114 in Bohol, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,538 in Bohol, rent included.

Manila costs about 40% more than Bohol, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Bohol are more affordable than the global median – Manila 27% lower, Bohol 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱332

$3.48 ₱214

55.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,609

$35.69 ₱2,192

-26.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱265

$4.55 ₱279

-5.05%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱163

$3.26 ₱200

-18.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱58.8

$0.78 ₱47.97

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.34

$0.39 ₱23.96

38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.7

$1.36 ₱83.6

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.16 ₱133

26.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.89 ₱116

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.7

$1.26 ₱77.4

5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.8

$0.94 ₱57.6

15.96%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$2.02 ₱124

4.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱558

$7.94 ₱488

14.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱314

$4.28 ₱263

19.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱511

$8.78 ₱539

-5.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱214

$2.99 ₱183

16.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱113

$1.54 ₱94.4

18.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$2.68 ₱165

36.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.56 ₱95.5

58.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$1.98 ₱122

35.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱190

$2.53 ₱155

22.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$1.07 ₱65.7

85.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.86

$0.72 ₱44.30

-2.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.42 ₱149

38.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱610

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.9

$1.20 ₱73.7

20.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱132

$2.03 ₱125

5.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.58

$0.28 ₱17.35

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱741

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.3

$0.82 ₱50.2

6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.71

$0.24 ₱14.78

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.18 ₱134

-4.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.2

$1.24 ₱76.1

-8.87%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

-0.39%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

10.59%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$136 ₱8,343

$110 ₱6,780

23.05%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 ₱1,364

$33.04 ₱2,029

-32.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,695

$27.27 ₱1,674

1.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,624

$18.85 ₱1,157

126.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱432

$4.37 ₱269

61.10%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱409

$5.65 ₱347

18.05%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$363 ₱22.3K

$151 ₱9,279

140.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱696.9K

$4,319 ₱265.2K

162.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,884

$44.96 ₱2,760

4.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,128

$26.71 ₱1,640

29.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,100

$74.2 ₱4,557

11.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,838

$53.5 ₱3,282

-13.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱30.0K

$141 ₱8,652

246.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.2K

$108 ₱6,659

142.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.7K

$525 ₱32.2K

224.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.5K

$223 ₱13.7K

181.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱271.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱155.1K

$543 ₱33.4K

364.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.67

12.74%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Manila: July 25, 2026

Last update for Bohol: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $141 in Bohol. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Manila versus $36.00 in Bohol. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Manila vs $192 in Bohol – so Bohol wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Manila vs Bohol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manila is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,452 per month in Manila and $1,036 in Bohol. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bohol, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $968 in Manila and $690 in Bohol. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $151 in Bohol. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bohol, where all-in costs run around $690, than in Manila at $968. In Bohol it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bohol – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bohol. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.